"Hank Owens is ex-military, Delta Force is what I'm told and, like I said, meaner than a snake. His inner ring is just as ruthless. The man runs a tight ship. We have an expression out here that pretty much sums up what we're all about. We're on him like stink on a skunk, but we can't get him. We tried sending a couple of our guys up to see Homer, but he was clamming with his grandkids and wouldn't give us the time of day other than to say we should take it up with Hank Owens. There wasn't anything we could do after that. Personally, I think Homer is senile. But, that's just my opinion."

"So you think Owens is the one ripping off the Strip and using Miss Barnes as a cover? I didn't think it could happen again after those MIT card counters walked away with $10 million, but maybe it is."

"Nothing else makes sense. Cosmo is on it, but he's coming up dry. Now do you see why I need to reach the vigilantes?"

Elias pretended to look thoughtful. "Best-case scenario, Peter, what do you see those women doing to Owens and his inner ring?"

"Cutting off their dicks and jamming them up their asses." Peter shrugged. "I didn't get that far in my thinking. Hell, look what they did to the national security advisor. Who were those guys with the dynamite up their asses? Christ, I can't remember anything these days. So, you aren't going to help me, then?"

"Do you want me to ask Navarro to come out here on the Q.T. with a team of agents? That I can do. He's had run-ins with the vigilantes. It's the best I can do, Peter. Listen, I have to go. Good luck."

Udal nodded glumly.

Then Elias leaned over, and whispered, "You didn't hear this from me, okay?" Udal nodded. "Your best bet is to get to Lizzie Fox, and when you do, you better have a very HIGH dollar amount in mind. Play straight with her, and I can almost guarantee the vigilantes will be in your sights in a heartbeat."

Udal looked up, and whatever he saw in Elias's expression seemed to satisfy him. All he could say was, "How high? You got a phone number?"

Elias laughed. "High enough so you don't embarrass yourself, and high enough so you and your commission lose sleep for a very long time. Your mouthpiece, Cricket, has the phone number. Get it from him."

"That high, huh?"

"Yep. See ya, Peter."

"Yeah, see ya, Elias."